Remote-control system for prime mover dynamo plants



Oct. 12, 1948. Y J. L. MONCRIEF 2,450,904

REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR PRIME MOVER DYNAMO PLANTS Original F'iled'July 12, 1944 INVENTOR.

JOHN L. MONCRIEF BY Patented Oct. 12, 1948 REMOTE-CONTROL SYSTEM FOR PRIME MOVER DYNAMO PLANTS John L. Moncrief, Eatontown, N. J.

Original application July 12, 1944, Serial No. 544,622. Divided and this application March 18, 1947, Serial No. 735,351

(Granted under the act of March 3,1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 8 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in remote control systems for gasoline engine-driven generator units, and more particularly to remote control systems in which it is desirable that there be no current in the remote control electrical cables when the generating plant is in operation.

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial Number 544,622, filed July 12, 1944, and entitled Remote control circuits, now Patent No. 2,423,464.

Heretofore, remote control operation of enginedriven generator units has been under the disadvantage of requiring a multiplicity of relays.-

Moreover, remote control units have caused radio frequency interference in nearby radio equipment, due to the current flowing inthe remote control conductors. The invention as set forth in this specification provides means for eliminating the current from the control lines connected to the remotely positioned generating unit, after the latter has been started, thus preventing the said control lines from radiating electrical disturbances.

It is therefore an object of this invention to eliminate electrical disturbances caused by the current carrying conductors of a remote control system.

A further object is to simplify the remote control system by the elimination of a multiplicity of relays.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a remote control system, for the purpose mentioned, in which a single relay, having only two coils therein, is used in lieu of the three coil relay disclosed in the above mentioned copending application.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing which illustrates diagrammatically a remote control system using a singlepole-double-throw switch for application to engines using magneto ignition systems.

The system includes a single-pole-double-throw switch 21, which may be a toggle switch, and two coils 29 and 30, for the relay 28. The relay uses a pull-in coil 29 and a neutralizing coil 30, and has three sets of contacts 3|, 32 and 33; 3| normally being closed, 32 normally open, and 33 having a floating contact intimate with upper contact normally and with the lower contact when relay 28 is energized. To start operation, the switch 21 is moved to the on" position. This energizes the starting solenoid l8, thus closing thev contacts 34, and completing the motor circuit to the positive side of the battery 20. When the engine starts, thegenerator l9 builds up and energizes the pullin coil 29; and contacts 3| open and disconnect the starter circuit. In addition, the safety controls and magneto controls, connected to conductors 24 and 25 respectively, are put into operable condition as contacts 32 and 33 are closed. To terminate the operation of the unit, the control switch 2'! is placed in the "01? position, energizing coil 30, which is adapted to neutralize the effect of the current flowing in the coil 28, thus permitting contacts 3i and 33 to assume their normal position. The safety controls which may comprise engine temperature and oil pressure controls are excluded from the circuit until the unit is placed in operation. Contacts 32 connect magneto line 25 to safety line 24, so that if any of the safety circuits are closed, the magneto will then be grounded and thus stop the engine.

The circuit described provides a remote control system for gasoline engine-driven generator units, while using only one controlling relay, and eliminates the flow of current through the remote control wires while the engine is in operation, whereby the stated objects of the invention are attained.

While there have been described what is at present considered the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an internal engine including an ignition system, an electric generator adapted to be driven by said engine, a motor adapted to start the engine, means for starting said motor and actuating the ignition system, a single, two-coil relay including an ener gizing and a ole-energizing coil, a plurality of contacts operable by said relay, 8, remote control switch, said motor energizing means comprising a control circuit, including one of said contacts, operable by said control switch, said energizing coil connected to saidgenerator to be energized thereby and adapted to actuate to open position said contact in the control circuit of the motor energizing means, a safety control circuit including one of said relay-operable contacts, said relay being adapted, upon activation of the energizing coil, to move the contact of the safety concombustion r trol circuit to closing position, so that the safety controls become operable, and a stopping circuit, including said generator, de-energizing coil, switch, and one of said relay-operable contacts, said stopping circuit adapted to be closed by said switch, whereby current may pass from the generator to the de-energizing coil to neutralize the energizing coil and thus effect stopping of said engine.

2. In combination, an internal combustion engine including an ignition system, an electric generator adapted to be driven by said engine, a motor adapted to start the engine, means for starting said motor and actuating the ignition system, a single, two-coil relay including an energizing and a de-energizing coil, a plurality of contacts operable by said relay,'a remote control, single-pole-double-throw switch, said motor energizing means comprising a control circuit, including one of said contacts, operable by said control switch, said energizing coil connected to said generator to be energized thereby and adapted to actuate to open position said contact in the control circuit of the motor energizing means, a safety control circuit including one of said relay-operable contacts, said relay being adapted, upon activation of the energizing coil,

to move the contact of the safety control circuit to closing position, so that the safety controls become operable, and a stopping circuit, including said generator, de-energizing coil, switch and one of said relay-operable contacts, said stopping circuit adapted to be closed by said switch, whereby current may pass from the generator to the deenergizing coil to neutralize the energizing coil and thus effect stopping of the engine.

3. In combination, an internal combustion engine including an ignition system, an electric generator adapted to be driven by said engine, a motor adapted to start the engine, means for starting said motor and actuating the ignition system, a single, two-coil relay including an energizing and a de-energizing coil, a plurality of contacts operable by said relay, a remote control, single-pole-double-throw toggle switch, said motor energizing means comprising a control circuit, including one of said contacts, operable by said control switch, said energizing coil connected to said generator to be energized-thereby and adapted to actuate to open position said contact in the control circuit of the motor energizing means, a safety control circuit including one of said relay-operable contacts, said relay being adapted, upon activation of the energizing coil, to move the contact of the safety control circuit to closing position, so that the safety controls become operable, and a stopping circuit, including said generator, de-energizing coil, switch, and one of said relay-operable contacts, said stopping circuit adapted to be closed by said switch, whereby current may pass from the generator to the de-energizing coil to neutralize the energizing coil and thus eflect stopping of the engine.

4. In combination, an internal combustion engine including an ignition system, an electric generator adapted to be driven by said engine, a motor adapted to start the engine, means for starting said motor and actuating the ignition system, a single, two-coil relay including an energizing and a de-energizing coil, a plurality of contacts operable by said relay, a remote control switch, said motor energizing means comprising a control circuit, including one of said contacts, operable by said control switch, said energizing coil connected to said generator to be energized thereby and adapted to actuate to open position said contact in the control circuit of the motor energizing means, and a stopping circuit, including said generator, tie-energizing coil, switch, and one of said relay-operable contacts, said stopping circuit adapted to be closed by said switch, whereby current may pass i'rom the generator to the de-energizing coil to neutralize the energizing coil and thus eii'ect stopping of the engine.

5. In combination, an internal combustion engine including a battery ignition system, an electric generator adapted to be driven by said engine, a motor adapted to start the engine, means for starting said motor and actuating the ignition system, a single, two-coil relay including an energizing and a de-energizing coil, a plurality of contacts operable by said relay. a remote control switch, said motor energizing means comprising a control circuit, including one of said contacts, operable by said control switch, said energizing coil connected to said generator to be energized thereby and adapted to actuate to open position said contact in the control circuit of the motor energizing means, and a stopping circuit, including said generator, de-energizing coil, switch and one of said relay-operable contacts, said stopping circuit adapted to be closed by said switch, whereby current may pass from the generator to the de-energizing coil to neutralize the energizing coil and thus effect stopping of the engine.

6. In combination, an internal combustion engine including a magneto ignition system, an electric generator adapted to be driven by said engine,

- a motor adapted to start the engine, means for starting said motor and actuating the ignition system, a single, two-coil relay including an energizing and a de-energizing coil, a plurality of contacts operable by said relay, a remote control switch, said motor energizing means comprising a control circuit, including one of said contacts, operable by said control switch, said energizing coil connected to said generator to be energized thereby and adapted to actuate to open position said contact in the control circuit of the motor energizing means, and a stopping circuit, including said generator, de-energizing coil, switch, and one of said relay-operable contacts, said stopping circuit adapted to be closed by said switch, whereby current may pass from the generator to the de-energizing coil to neutralize the energizing coil and thus effect stopping of the engine.

JOHN L, MONCBIEI".

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED s'rsrns PATENTS Number Name Date 1,382,414 Dorsey June 21, 1921 1,415,309 Byles May 9, 1922 1,826,488 Wiederhold Apr. 26, 1927 1,878,051 Williams Sept. 20, 1932 1,946,555 Trail Feb. 13, 1934 1,989,057 Kongsted Jan. 22, 1935 2,111,971 Janes Mar. 22, 1938 2,131,403 Loehr et a1 Sept. 27, 1938 2,201,393 Douglas May 21, 1940 2,338,460 Schmitt Jan. 4, 1944 2,423,484 Moncrief July 8, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 144,220 Great Britain June 10, 1920 

